Dear Linda,

How would such a free MOOC on FSM be funded? Just curious how this works for MOOCs. Is there a special fund for MOOCs from the Swiss government perhaps?

Regards,
Elisabeth

Hi Elisabeth,

Unfortunately for this Eawag course we have to charge, but we are planning an FSM online MOOC course that will be available free of charge...unfortunately not until 2016.

The book that the course is based on is also available free of charge...
www.sandec.ch/fsm_book

Best regards,
Linda

Dear Paul,
Thanks for your quick reply. That's interesting. I saw in your flyer that the online participation costs 350 Swiss Franks (360 USD). That's quite a bit for a 2-day course for someone from a developing country.

I am just wondering:

1. How many online participants do you normally get for such courses?
2. Would it be possible to offer a lower fee for online participants who are only viewing but not interacting?
3. And how do the funding arrangements work: how is it possible for Eawag to offer some courses for free in a MOOC mode (see here on the forum) and some not? I guess the MOOC type courses received additional funding from some other source perhaps, whereas the PEAK courses have not?

I am actually puzzled how the MOOCs can be offered for free as they also require quite a bit of staff time etc. Don't get me wrong, I totally understand that course fees need to be charged to recover costs for training - just trying to understand how the different models work financially.

Regards,
Elisabeth

P.S. Anyone wondering what is meant by MOOC, I think this Wikipedia page explains it quite well:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massive_open_online_course

Hi Elisabeth,

Eawag sets the PEAK courses up so that there is live streaming of the presentations and discussion groups. People can also ask questions throughout because there is someone who monitors online queries. Participants have to download a chat software beforehand in order to ask questions, take part in discussions, etc.

Sincerely,

Paul

Hi Paul,
I saw in the course flier that online participation is also possible, which is great:

Online Participation in the course via internet using video conference
Participation is possible. Technical requirement is broadband internet access
(> 1MB/sec). For more technical details please see
downloads.avaya.com/css/P8/documents/100173495

Could you please explain how this would work? Is it live streaming of the lectures? Would an online participant also be allowed to ask questions and if so, how?

Regards,
Elisabeth

For those considering the best way to implement comprehensive faecal sludge management in urban areas of developing countries, Eawag’s upcoming PEAK course will teach best practices and up-to-date research. The course is Sept. 17-18, 2015, at Eawag. For more information and to register, please go to: www.eawag.ch/en/teaching/cont-education/peak/.